Miami football: 3 takeaways from dominant win over Florida State

3. Miami’s defense set the tone early

The Miami defense held their in-state and conference rival to not only three first-half points but they dominated the Florida State offense in both the first and second quarters.

Florida State was only able to get 105 total yards against the stingy and aggressive Hurricane defense. The Seminole passing attack only put up 40 total passing yards and only completed six total passes in the first half.

Miami’s Jordan Travis intercepted an errant pass attempt by Florida State’s Jaelan Phillips to set up a Hurricane touchdown. The Miami’s front seven were relentlessly pressuring the Seminole quarterbacks making the Florida State unable to convert third downs as the Seminoles only were successful on two in the first half.

In summary in the first half, the Hurricane defense had nine tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. Later on, in the game and in the second half, the Miami defense gave up a touchdown in the third quarter but then picked off two passes with one of those interceptions being in the end zone and preventing a Seminoles touchdown.